diff --git a/src/Mod/Fem/femobjects/mesh_gmsh.py b/src/Mod/Fem/femobjects/mesh_gmsh.py
index ebeab6b261..81685c5d96 100644
--- a/src/Mod/Fem/femobjects/mesh_gmsh.py
+++ b/src/Mod/Fem/femobjects/mesh_gmsh.py
@@ -144,7 +144,7 @@ class MeshGmsh(base_fempythonobject.BaseFemPythonObject):
                 "Order of mesh elements"
             )
             obj.ElementOrder = MeshGmsh.known_element_orders
-            obj.ElementOrder = "1st"
+            obj.ElementOrder = "2nd"
 
         if not hasattr(obj, "OptimizeStd"):
             obj.addProperty(